The Lippitt Leopards have made a major leap throughout the course of the 2023-24 school year.

Last year, the school ranked near the bottom of all of Warwick’s elementary schools, with only 11% of students proficient in math and 26% proficient in reading, according to the school’s i-Ready Diagnostic Scores. One year later, Lippitt is at the top, with 68% of students at or above their grade level in math and 69% hitting that mark in reading.

One of the biggest changes that the school had throughout the year was at their helm, where Erick Pagan took over for his first year as principal.

Pagan said that adjusting to being a principal- he had previously been an assistant principal in Somerville, Mass. and in Providence- was not an easy process.

“It’s been an adjustment, doing one thing at a time,” Pagan said. “The district has given me some autonomy to work in my building. We’ve got to stay within these parameters, but go.”

Over the year, Pagan said that he tried implementing different strategies and improvement plans in order to change the school’s culture and improve results.

Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Lisa Schultz credited Pagan for being willing to start the conversation about Lippitt’s prior struggles and for presenting strategic plans to improve the school.

“You can’t be afraid of those conversations, because people shy away from that,” Schultz said. “You don’t want to hear that you’re taking the struggle bus, but you need to say it sometimes.”

Pagan, though, deferred the credit to his students and teachers, saying that they had done much of the heavy work in improving the school’s performance.

“My teachers, my parents, my staff- they’re awesome,” Pagan said. “They’ve been very supportive since the day I walked in. Obviously, just like any other school, you have to adjust and trust and build relationships with people.”

Those staff and students got to enjoy Lippitt’s annual Field Day on Friday, unofficially closing out the year with outdoor games, special guests and celebrations.

With students color-coded by grade, Field Day began with a performance by the RI Bucket Drummers, who also brought students up to perform with them. The Warwick Fire Department also paid a visit, spraying kids down with a firehose.

Lippitt PTO president Michele Varrecchia said seeing the school turn around had been incredible to see and gave the day extra meaning.

“The kids get excited about learning, the kids get excited about coming to school,” Varrecchia said. “It’s been really great.”

Following the Fire Department’s visit, students went to stations throughout Lippitt’s back lawn where different yard games were set up for them to enjoy the rest of the day.

Keeping Lippitt’s momentum moving into next year, Pagan said, would involve improving attendance and using the 2023-24 school year as a building block.

“We’ve got a new school improvement plan, hoping to just meet those goals,” Pagan said. “We have to work on attendance as a school… I’m hoping that’s a focus for us next year. Caring for kids, getting kids to school. That’s been a big piece and we’re just trying to sustain it.”

Next year, though, was far from the minds of students on Friday, as they celebrated the end of what had been a monumental year for them.